Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum on Monday demanded formation of a Rohingya repatriation committee and suspension of permanent shelter centre construction process for Rohingyas.
At a press conference held in Cox’s Bazar, the organization came up with the demand from the view of strengthening of national sovereignty, increased border surveillance, prevention of further Rohingya infiltration, enhancement of military capability and ensuring representation of local government and local people in Rohingya crisis management.
Speakers of the programme also demanded an end to environmental destruction and deterioration of law and order allegedly caused by the Rohingya presence, as well as a halt to the construction of permanent shelters for Rohingyas.
The press conference titled “Bangladesh Must Establish Sovereignty in Cox’s Bazar; Participation of Local Government and People is Essential in Rohingya Relief Activities” was organized on Sunday afternoon at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club by the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF). Local representatives and NGO leaders called for the formation of a Rohingya Repatriation Commission to accelerate repatriation efforts.
The session was moderated by CCNF Co-Chair Rezaul Karim Chowdhury. He stated that border security must be ensured in the interest of Bangladesh’s national security and Rohingya infiltration must be stopped. He also called for ensuring the presence of the Bangladesh Army alongside the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at the border and emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s military capability.
He urged Bangladesh to continue discussions and apply pressure regarding the Rohingya crisis and repatriation through the ASEAN forum. He also suggested holding talks with the Arakan Army on the Rohingya issue. Furthermore, he called upon Cox’s Bazar Members of Parliament to raise issues related to Rohingyas, national security, and local concerns in the national parliament.
Speakers at the conference alleged that UNHCR and several UN agencies have sidelined local NGOs by assigning work to international organizations such as ActionAid, Terre des Hommes (TDH), and ACTED. They argued that these international organizations should operate using funds collected from their countries of origin and strongly criticized the current practices of UN agencies.
CCNF Member Secretary Jahangir Alam said that UNHCR, through BRAC and Infinix, is constructing permanent housing structures for Rohingyas in the camps without consulting local government representatives or political leaders. According to him, this has created negative sentiment among local residents.
He also claimed that the materials being used, such as plastic tarpaulins, are not environmentally friendly. He argued that there is no precedent anywhere in the world for constructing permanent infrastructure for refugees on this scale and warned that such measures may encourage further Rohingya influx. Therefore, he urged authorities to discuss such decisions with local people and local government representatives.
CCNF member Md. Helal Uddin stated that UNOCHA allocated USD 150 million in humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, of which 92% reportedly went to UN agencies and 8% to international organizations. He argued that according to localization commitments, 25% of the funds should be directly allocated to local NGOs.
He further demanded legislation in parliament to prevent UN agencies from implementing projects without involving local NGOs. He also called for opening up the Joint Response Plan (JRP) to local NGOs, alleging that it is currently dominated by UN agencies and international and national NGOs.
Md. Shahinur Islam, Assistant Director of Coast Foundation, said BRAC is implementing a pool fund for local NGOs, but only 22% of the fund is going to local NGOs while 78% is going to national NGOs. He argued that since the fund is intended for local NGOs, it should be implemented through a consortium of local organizations.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the pool fund, claiming that despite many capacity-building initiatives, no local NGO has yet been entrusted with responsibility for any sector. He further alleged that many INGOs and UN agencies operating in Cox’s Bazar have chief executives from a specific foreign country, which he believes raises concerns regarding Bangladesh’s national security and could potentially influence delays in the repatriation process. He called for appointing Bangladeshis, particularly people from Cox’s Bazar, to important positions.
Md. Elias Mia, chief executive of CEHRDF and an environmental activist, said that around 8,000 acres of forest land had been destroyed to establish Rohingya camps, causing severe environmental consequences for Cox’s Bazar. He warned that groundwater levels are declining and proposed stopping excessive groundwater extraction, treating and supplying water from the Naf River, and prioritizing pond excavation.
Tanzir Uddin Rony, Assistant Director of Coast Foundation, emphasized the need for representation of local government and local residents in Rohingya crisis management. He noted that the Rohingya Coordination Team (RCT), formed by various organizations, currently lacks local government representation, resulting in local interests not being adequately reflected in decision-making.
He called for the inclusion of Members of Parliament and local public representatives in the coordination structure. He also stated that visible progress in Rohingya repatriation is lacking, increasing public concern in Cox’s Bazar. He demanded the formation of an accountable “Rohingya Repatriation Commission” to work on repatriation and regularly present progress updates to the public.
Engineer Rabiul Hasan, central special representative of Combined Human Rights World, alleged that the World Food Programme (WFP), through NGO activities in the camps, is economically empowering Rohingyas by providing vendor opportunities, which he described as concerning. He stressed the need for proper oversight of such activities.
Engineer Helal Uddin, a Union Parishad member of Rajapalong Ward No. 9, stated that waste from Rohingya camps has already rendered around 300 acres of local farmland unsuitable for cultivation and is contributing to the depletion of groundwater levels. He lamented that such concerns raised by local residents have long been ignored.
During the question-and-answer session, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said there has been no visible progress regarding Rohingya repatriation, and local stakeholders are not informed about discussions or decisions on the matter. He stated that there is no clear roadmap for repatriation.
He also claimed that security along the Ukhiya-Teknaf border remains weak, BGB forces are insufficiently equipped, and Rohingya infiltration continues regularly. He recalled that in 2014, they had already warned through a press conference about the urgent need to strengthen security in the Cox’s Bazar region, increase army presence, and enhance military capability.
He expressed concern that Bangladesh still lacks a comprehensive national security policy or strategic plan regarding the issue. Referring to a Rohingya conference held in Geneva last September through the initiative of Dr. Yunus, he questioned whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken meaningful steps on the matter.
